The Chief Executive Officer of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, has reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to transforming Ghana’s tree crops sector through strengthened regulation, market integrity, value chain development, stakeholder collaboration, and strategic investment promotion.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement held at the Damongo Community Centre in the Savannah Region, Dr. Okrah outlined a comprehensive roadmap aimed at accelerating growth across the cashew, shea, and mango industries while creating new opportunities for farmers, processors, traders, exporters, and agribusiness entrepreneurs.
The engagement brought together a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including farmers, processors, exporters, cooperative leaders, women groups, youth agripreneurs, traditional authorities, development partners, and industry actors from across the Savannah Region.
The programme was facilitated through the collaboration of Bunyanso Farms Limited and other key organizations operating within the cashew, shea, and mango value chains.
Delivering a stakeholder position statement, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bunyanso Farms Limited, Hon. Iddrisu Sumani, popularly known as Azambuja, welcomed the TCDA delegation and commended the Authority for its efforts in regulating and promoting Ghana’s growing tree crops industry.
In his address, Dr. Okrah highlighted TCDA’s mandate and explained several regulatory measures designed to improve compliance, traceability, transparency, and sustainable development within the sector.
He emphasized the importance of the Authority’s Regulatory Framework, Enforcement Systems, Market Integrity Mechanisms, and Conveyance Certificate Regime, describing them as critical tools for enhancing product quality, strengthening investor confidence, and safeguarding the interests of farmers and legitimate industry players.
According to the TCDA CEO, the Authority continues to implement policies aimed at reducing illegal trading activities, improving governance across value chains, strengthening traceability systems, and creating a more structured and attractive environment for investment.
Dr. Okrah acknowledged the numerous challenges confronting stakeholders in the Savannah Region, including limited access to quality planting materials, inadequate processing facilities, financing constraints, post-harvest losses, market access difficulties, low levels of value addition, and the growing impact of climate change on agricultural productivity.
Despite these challenges, he described the Savannah Region as one of Ghana’s most promising frontiers for tree crop development due to its favourable ecological conditions, vast arable land, and increasing participation of women and youth in agribusiness.
To address existing bottlenecks, the TCDA Chief Executive outlined a number of strategic interventions being pursued by the Authority. These include strengthening farmer cooperatives and associations, expanding training and extension services, supporting investment in processing and value addition, improving quality standards, facilitating market access, and promoting stronger partnerships among stakeholders.
He urged farmers, processors, traders, and exporters to comply with industry regulations and work closely with the Authority to ensure sustainable growth and competitiveness within the sector.
During an interactive session, stakeholders raised concerns relating to access to certified planting materials, farmer support services, protection of shea parklands, processing infrastructure, financing opportunities, youth employment, and market development. Participants called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, development partners, private sector actors, and farmer organizations to unlock the full economic potential of Northern Ghana’s tree crops industry.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of a traditional Daboya smock to Dr. Andy Osei Okrah by Hon. Iddrisu Sumani on behalf of Bunyanso Farms Limited and stakeholders across the cashew, shea, and mango value chains.
The TCDA CEO was also honoured with a Citation of Honour and conferred with the title, “Champion of Tree Crops Development in Ghana,” in recognition of his outstanding leadership and contributions to the growth, regulation, and promotion of Ghana’s tree crops sector.
The citation praised his efforts in advancing stakeholder engagement, promoting farmer empowerment, strengthening market integrity, encouraging value addition, and creating opportunities across the cashew, shea, mango, coconut, and rubber industries.
Receiving the honour, Dr. Okrah expressed gratitude to Bunyanso Farms Limited and stakeholders for the recognition and reaffirmed TCDA’s commitment to working closely with industry players to drive sustainable development throughout the sector.
The engagement concluded with a renewed pledge by TCDA, Bunyanso Farms Limited, farmer organizations, processors, traders, exporters, and development partners to deepen collaboration and pursue initiatives that will boost investment, job creation, value addition, and economic transformation across the Savannah Region and Northern Ghana.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that the strengthened partnership would position the Savannah Region as a leading hub for tree crop production and processing, contributing significantly to Ghana’s agricultural and economic development agenda.
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Kumatey Gorden/0243531604
